Functional and Therapeutic Implications of Mitochondrial Network and Mitochondria-Associated Membranes: The Glioma’s Case

Even today, despite the surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy, gliomas prognosis is still poor. There is a great need to develop new therapies. The understanding of the structural and functional characteristics of mitochondrial network (MN) and mitochondria-associated membranes (MAM) in gliomas is essential for the design of future therapeutic strategies. A huge range of ultrastructural findings is observed in MN and MAM in the human gliomas. These findings imply that a majority of glioma cells are incompetent to produce an adequate amount of energy by means of oxidative phosphorylation and compensatory increases in glycolytic ATP production. Regarding MAM, a “MAM-rich” cell (well-differentiated glioma cells) and “MAM-deficient” cells (glioma like-stem cells) exist. The quantity of MAM could be linked to the functional or metabolic state of the different glioma cells. MAM-resident mTORC2 is a major regulator tumor growth and drug resistance. If sufficient nutrients are present, glioblastoma cells maintain mTORC2 signaling to drive cell proliferation and survival. Consequently, the replacement of fermentable fuels like glucose with non-fermentable fuels like ketone bodies becomes a logical approach. The vision must be targeting the cellular signaling pathways and metabolic reprogramming. Whatever the modality, a holistic and feasible approach must be developed

Black shale deposition and early diagenetic dolomite cementation during Oceanic Anoxic Event 1: The mid-Cretaceous Maracaibo Platform, northwestern South America

Thin laterally continuous organic-rich dolomitic marlstones were deposited in the extended Late Aptian - Early Albian epicontinental sea of northwestern South America. These intervals are the proximal equivalents of thick hemipelagic black shale-ammonitic floatstone couplets, deposited in the distally stepped, differentially subsiding part of the Maracaibo Platform. The marlstones reflect the dynamic conditions resulting from orbital forcing mechanisms and can be genetically related to (1) minor sea-level changes, (2) proximal turnovers in marine productivity, and (3) sudden climate shifts affecting mid-Cretaceous shoaling upward, shallow marine, carbonate cyclicity. Therefore, the marlstones may well be linked to the multiple environmental perturbations collectively referred to as Oceanic Anoxic Event 1. The interstitial euhedral dolomite has a medium crystallinity, and exhibits unusual textural relations with framboidal pyrite and gypsum. The authigenic mineral assemblage also includes quartz, Ca-F apatite, and barite, which together with the chemical signals of dolomite, point to an unsteady climate regime. Bulk-rock biomarker parameters, rare earth element geochemistry, and iron speciation data point to widespread photic zone anoxia and transient shallow marine euxinia by the time of deposition, with climatic instability driving the delivery of oxidized detritus from the hinterlands. These conditions led to a schizohaline redox stratified environment favorable to dolomite precipitation. In such a depositional setting, the bio-utilization of Fe, Mn, and sulfur for organic matter respiration sustained elevated pore-water alkalinity and pH, and allowed for the pre-compactional growth of interstitial dolomite

Harvest anticipation, yield and economic feasibility of wheat by application of non-selective herbicides.

The present work aims to evaluate the possibility of anticipating the wheat harvest by the application of non-selective herbicides in the pre-harvest conditions, thereby providing productive and economic viability

Produtividade e viabilidade econômica da antecipação da colheita de trigo pela aplicação de herbicidas.

A dessecação na pré-colheita é uma prática adotada para promover melhores condições na operação e possibilitar o cultivo subsequente em épocas adequadas. Nesse sentido, a maximização da produção das culturas agrícolas depende de condições edafoclimáticas que coincidam com as melhores condições ecofisiológicas para as plantas. Em algumas regiões do RS, a colheita do trigo tem coincidido com a época preferencial de semeadura da soja, na sucessão ao trigo (Pires et al., 2016). Dessa forma, a colheita antecipada da cultura do trigo com umidades da massa de grãos próximo a 30% não implica em perda do potencial produtivo (Carneiro et al., 2005), mas aumenta o custo de secagem das sementes para proporcionar adequado armazenamento e industrialização. Pesquisas têm demonstrado que a dessecação pré-colheita com herbicidas pode ser considerada uma prática importante para antecipar o ponto de colheita da cultura (Yenish; Young, 2000). Estudos visando o sucesso da prática e a viabilidade econômica da dessecação pré-colheita de trigo são escassos e, muitas vezes realizado sem o devido acompanhamento técnico. O objetivo do trabalho foi avaliar a produtividade e a viabilidade econômica da antecipação da colheita do trigo através da aplicação de herbicidas na pré-colheita

Temporal Genetic Variance and Propagule-Driven Genetic Structure Characterize Naturalized Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) from a Patagonian Lake Impacted by Trout Farming

Knowledge about the genetic underpinnings of invasions—a theme addressed by invasion genetics as a discipline—is still scarce amid well documented ecological impacts of non-native species on ecosystems of Patagonia in South America. One of the most invasive species in Patagonia’s freshwater systems and elsewhere is rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). This species was introduced to Chile during the early twentieth century for stocking and promoting recreational fishing; during the late twentieth century was reintroduced for farming purposes and is now naturalized. We used population- and individual-based inference from single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) to illuminate three objectives related to the establishment and naturalization of Rainbow Trout in Lake Llanquihue. This lake has been intensively used for trout farming during the last three decades. Our results emanate from samples collected from five inlet streams over two seasons, winter and spring. First, we found that significant intra- population (temporal) genetic variance was greater than inter-population (spatial) genetic variance, downplaying the importance of spatial divergence during the process of naturalization. Allele frequency differences between cohorts, consistent with variation in fish length between spring and winter collections, might explain temporal genetic differences. Second, individual-based Bayesian clustering suggested that genetic structure within Lake Llanquihue was largely driven by putative farm propagules found at one single stream during spring, but not in winter. This suggests that farm broodstock might migrate upstream to breed during spring at that particular stream. It is unclear whether interbreeding has occurred between “pure” naturalized and farm trout in this and other streams. Third, estimates of the annual number of breeders (N[subscript]b) were below 73 in half of the collections, suggestive of genetically small and recently founded populations that might experience substantial genetic drift. Our results reinforce the notion that naturalized trout originated recently from a small yet genetically diverse source and that farm propagules might have played a significant role in the invasion of Rainbow Trout within a single lake with intensive trout farming. Our results also argue for proficient mitigation measures that include management of escapes and strategies to minimize unintentional releases from farm facilities

Congenital malaria in Urabá, Colombia

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Congenital malaria has been considered a rare event; however, recent reports have shown frequencies ranging from 3% to 54.2% among newborns of mothers who had suffered malaria during pregnancy. There are only a few references concerning the epidemiological impact of this entity in Latin-America and Colombia.</p> <p>Objective</p> <p>The aim of the study was to measure the prevalence of congenital malaria in an endemic Colombian region and to determine some of its characteristics.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A prospective, descriptive study was carried out in the mothers who suffered malaria during pregnancy and their newborns. Neonates were clinically evaluated at birth and screened for <it>Plasmodium spp</it>. infection by thick smear from the umbilical cord and peripheral blood, and followed-up weekly during the first 21 days of postnatal life through clinical examinations and thick smears.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>116 newborns were included in the study and 80 umbilical cord samples were obtained. Five cases of congenital infection were identified (four caused by <it>P. vivax </it>and one by <it>P. falciparum</it>), two in umbilical cord blood and three in newborn peripheral blood. One case was diagnosed at birth and the others during follow-up. Prevalence of congenital infection was 4.3%. One of the infected newborns was severely ill, while the others were asymptomatic and apparently healthy. The mothers of the newborns with congenital malaria had been diagnosed with malaria in the last trimester of pregnancy or during delivery, and also presented placental infection.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Congenital malaria may be a frequent event in newborns of mothers who have suffered malaria during pregnancy in Colombia. An association was found between congenital malaria and the diagnosis of malaria in the mother during the last trimester of pregnancy or during delivery, and the presence of placental infection.</p